The Down Home Immigration Battle
You Teach People How to Treat You
However, here in Texas now, we have the 2nd largest concentration of illegal immigrants,(specifically mexican) in the country, second only to California-over 2 million.
My personal experiences with these mostly Mexican immigrants, (and I have had many), have been mostly negative in the last decade. These immigrants I am seeing now, are not the same immigrants that our country was founded on the backs of ,so many years ago. These are not the same people. Simple as that. The reason Texas, New Mexico, and California are pushing for immigration reform, the REAL reason, is because we're flat broke now. Because we have millions of Mexican immigrants coming across the borders, refusing to work, refusing to learn the language, and committing welfare fraud.
I have a first cousin who married a Mexican man, who came in illegally when he was five years old, and worked his whole life here. He became a citizen, went to law school, and is today a state judge in Austin. He is ashamed of what his people are doing. They are not coming here because they love America and want to be a part of it. They're coming here because we're giving them free everything, and they're bankrupting us all; Disgracing everything the word immigrant stands for in the American vocabulary.
Even as a long time civil rights activist, I am embarrassed to go into establishments and witness the reverse racism that goes on. My daughter's education suffers because she goes into school and has to be taught a slower curriculum because of the children in class whose parents vehemently and hostilely refuse to allow their children to learn english.
My question is, if you want this to be more like Mexico, why did you leave in the first place? Because we give you free services for nothing. What is going on right now is token change. Because the rich will continue to hire illegals for cheap labor, exploiting them while they exploit us. I know full well the difference between a deadbeat and someone trying to earn a good life. But deadbeats right now, and for a long while, have been allowed to take the plenty we'll give them, and not contribute anything back.
This issue depresses the hell out of me, because it isn't going to change. And the reason noone stands up and says what I've just said, is because people are far too quick to use racism as a tool. That is a far uglier and different thing than cultural pride, and responsibility. Two terms given to our consciousness by real, beautiful, diverse people.
Maybe all this is only fair, at least in Texas. It's just a crying shame to me. Personal responsibility is dying out. Holding your hand out is so much easier than earning your way to anything. The reason this bothers me so much is because I have worked 2 and 3 jobs to get where I am. I was loathe to take any help from welfare or medicaid. And because of that I'm stronger and better. I'm not ashamed, and I expect everyone else to suck it up and deal. Life is hard, work your ass off, do what you have to do. God knows I do every day to feed my daughter. And then, at the end of an 18 hour day, I go to the grocery store and there are Mexican illegals using 400 dollars worth of food stamps to buy filet mignon while their 8 kids have no shoes on or clean diapers.
There is something wrong with that picture. Yes, there will always be lazy people of every race and creed. This is my personal and admittedly controversial opinion, on what I see as a tear in our fabric-a tear that is widening as we speak.
Published by Megan Smith
I'm a nomad now living back at home in Amarillo, Tx. I have a 12 year old daughter who keeps me busy as well as a successful career. My writing has taken me far considering it is still in its infancy. You c... View profile
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8 Comments
Post a Commentthank God for the gov of Ariz. & as for the 24 US Mil. personnel President OBangus was naturalizing...send them to the War College & back to Mexico where they will become its Abe L & Geo Wn.!!!
Awesome. Many hispanics also feel the same way.
Beth, I can really identify with what your saying. I wrote an article yesterday about similar experiences and feelings. Those who use race as a hidey-hole or a cover for abominable behavior are worse than bigots. People CAN think and say that the BEHAVIOR of a person or persons of another race is reprehensible without downing that persons RACE. A turd is a turd, no matter its color. Nigel, I think you either A) miss her point or B) simply have no desire to see it.
Beth..I stand and clap my hands to you and shout with a loud voice,,MORE MORE MORE...Speak the truth write it in the sky...Your letter is so true and right on that many people need to know more about this problem that the goverment seems to want to help increase the freebies we give to Illegally's.I mean what is wrong with our Pres Bush that he wans to forgive all the Illegally's and let them become citizens and give them free everything..Oh thats right he can do it..He will just raise our taxes Which are now 40% of our pay checks and sya it is all for a very good couse..Believe me I am one that is never affraid to give to the poor and needed.As a matter a fact I pray that even more people would step up to help those who are in need in this country.But to just tell those who came to this country threw the back door insted of the front door should in no way be able to have the welfare that is needed for those who have gained the citizenship without breaking the law..Yes the statue of Li
chip off your shoulder. Thanks for your comment.
I think you're angry at the wrong person hon. I was specifically referring to a new age of Mexican immigrants that we deal with in Texas now. There are just as many deadbeats from other cultures, including what people call white trash. You should write an op-ed about your problems with immigration. Mine was very specific, and no, I'm not racist. I have no need to prove anything to you hon, you think what you're going to think, regardless of what I say. I'm being true to myself in what I write, and I don't believe it's ok to throw the word racism around everytime you don't agree with something. It is not considered racist in any culture to discuss cultural differences and problems. I was not referring to the Mexican culture. I was referring to the mentally of a group of immigrants that happen to be Mexican. That would be because the border between the United States is with Mexico. If it were Portugal, I would be speaking about that too. Stop throwing around that word and get the
The mexican image painted: 8 kids, abusing welfare and living off the state, lazy, deadbeats. But you're not racist because you have many personal experiences with Mexican immigrants and a first cousin who married a Mexican? I suppose he is the exception that proves the rule. This is why I left Texas. Even the liberals are conservative. I'm confident they won't miss me though, since I crossed over from New Mexico illegaly into the nation of Texas.
This article is one of the most informative and intriguing pieces I have ever read. Megan Smith�s straight forward honesty can be slightly compared to that of modern day poet, Saul Williams. And let me add that I totally agree with her point of view, as I am sure most of us do.
Megan has done an excellent job of analyzing an issue regrading race without coming off as a �racist�, nearly an impossible undertaking in the United States of America.
Congratulations to you Megan.
Our generation looks forward to your inspiring words in a time in which honesty and bravery is essential.